Dual function battery system and method

A three terminal battery module, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of battery cells disposed within the housing;
• a plurality of battery terminals formed on the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of battery cells, wherein the battery module is configured to:
• operate in a first voltage domain when a first electrical device is electrically coupled to a first terminal of the plurality of battery terminals and a second terminal of the plurality of battery terminals;
• and
• operate in a second voltage domain non-overlapping with the first voltage domain when a second electrical device is electrically coupled to the second terminal of the plurality of battery terminals and a third terminal of the plurality of battery terminals;
• one or more switches disposed within the housing and electrically coupled between the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of battery terminals;
• and
• one or more sensing units configured to measure operational parameters of the three terminal battery module;
• a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more switches and the one or more sensing units, wherein the controller is configured to:
• determine the operational parameters of the three terminal battery module measured by the one or more sensing units;
• and
• control switching of the one or more switches to facilitate controlling charging of the battery module, discharging of the battery module, or both based at least in part on the operational parameters of the three terminal battery module measured by the one or more sensing units.

A computing system, comprising:

• at least one processing unit and at least one memory unit storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the at least one processing unit, to cause the at least one processing unit to perform a method for performing dual functions of a three terminal battery module in a vehicle, the method comprising:
• operating in a first voltage domain when a first electrical device is electrically coupled to a first terminal of a plurality of battery terminals and a second terminal of the plurality of battery terminals to provide stored electrical power for supporting primary electrical functions of the vehicle during a key-on state;
• and
• operating in a second voltage domain non-overlapping with the first voltage domain when a second electrical device is electrically coupled to the second terminal of the plurality of battery terminals and a third terminal of the plurality of battery terminals, wherein operating at the second voltage domain comprises providing stored electrical power from a reduced number of the plurality battery cells via operation of a switching network.